While some of us love the hustle and bustle of a town or city, some of us crave peace and quiet.
If you’re in the latter group, finding a quiet road or neighbourhood is probably a priority, so here’s what you can do to make your search successful.
Research your location thoroughly
Your location has a huge effect on the noise levels around your home. You could be in a village but if one wall faces a noisy road or picks up the sound from a train line, your peace could be shattered. Look for existing roads, bus and lorry routes and train lines, as well as any that are set to be built in the next few years.
Look at the physical features around the property you’re viewing
Speed bumps are great for slowing down traffic in your road, but they do make a lot of noise. You also need to see if there are any restrictions on HGVs in your street, as well as pubs and even nightclubs nearby. If you’re rural, you’re unlikely to be anywhere near a nightclub, but your quaint village pub might get a bit rowdy every Friday night.
Visit the location at different times of day
If your seemingly quiet road has lots of early morning deliveries, or there’s a noisy school kicking out at 3.00pm on weekdays, you might not appreciate this.
Spend some time on the top floors
Whether it’s a flat or a two or three-storey house, being elevated a bit might filter out a lot of street noise. If your bedrooms are at the back of the property you could also be shielded from street sounds.
Ask your surveyor if there’s anything you can do about noise insulation
There may already have been some modifications made, or you may be able to make them if necessary. If you’re buying a period building, you may be restricted with the sort of noise insulation you can install.
Look at the neighbours
If there have been any disputes with the neighbours in recent years, your vendor will have to declare it. Of course, it may be something that was resolved amicably, but then again, it could be a complaint about all-night parties four nights a week.
Do you need carpeting?
If you’re buying an apartment, the lease might require you to have carpeting rather than wooden floors. You might be able to have a wooden or tiled floor if you install soundproofing underneath, though.
Have a budget for modifications
You might have found the ideal property only to discover that you can hear the nearby dual carriageway when the leaves have fallen from the trees in between you and the road. What you might need is some double or triple glazing, or maybe some evergreen trees at the bottom of your garden, to dampen the noise. For a reasonable outlay, you could have all-year-round tranquillity.
Watch for hidden surprises
You never know what’s a few years down the line. If there’s a disused factory or a brownfield site, it could be the site of a new housing complex within a decade. Be ready to make further modifications to your property or even to move.
